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From Wikivoyage

Petite-Rivière-Saint-François is a municipality of the regional county municipality (RCM) of Charlevoix. Its principal attraction is a vast meteorite crater, the Astrobleme of Charlevoix.

Understand

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In partnership with businesses and organizations, Tourisme Charlevoix and Baie-Saint-Paul City showcase the region's natural attractions (grandiose landscapes of valleys and mountains, its superb border of the river, its maritime space, its streams and bodies of water, its magnificent forests), its picturesque architecture, its regional history (in particular the astroblème of Charlevoix), its artistic and cultural life, as well as the products of the soil, the regional services and its artists and craftsmen. In addition, the community strives to perpetuate the reputation of Baie-Saint-Paul as the cultural capital of Charlevoix, Quebec and Canada.

Geography

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Being located at the western limit of the MRC de Charlevoix, the town of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François is the gateway to Charlevoix by route 138. Access to the hamlet of Maillard and the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François is via rue Principale which starts at route 138 (just northeast of the hamlet of Saint-Cassien-des-Caps) and which runs down the mountain with a vertical drop of 438 m, that is to say to the edge of the St. Lawrence River. The Côtes de la Martine, on rue Principale, is worth a detour because it overlooks the St. Lawrence River and faces Saint-Jean-Port-Joli which is on the south shore of the river.

Coastal locality, the territory of the municipality constitutes a strip of territory of more than 20.4 km (12.7 mi) (in direct line) along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River by 8.1 km (5.0 mi) (maximum width). At low tide, the Bancs de la Baie then reveals the sandstone between Cap d'Éboulis (in Saint-Joachim) to Cap-aux-Corbeaux (on the west shore of Baie Saint-Paul, in Baie-Saint-Paul). At low tide, this sandstone stretches as far as 0.94 km (0.58 mi) facing the Maillard hamlet and 0.6 km (0.37 mi) facing the marina of the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François .

The main mountain peaks in this municipal area are Montagne à Liguorie (803 m), La Pointue (615 m), Les Tourelles (588 m) (at the limit of La Malbaie) and an unidentified summit (706 m, at southeast of Route 138). The mountain slope (steep in places) facing the river is a resort area on the mountainside, as well as an ideal place for board sports and other recreational tourism activities. The permanent residences are mainly distributed on the strip of land between the foot of the cliff and the bank of the river.

Astrobleme of Charlevoix

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About 400 million years ago, a meteorite with an estimated diameter of 2 kilometers and a mass of about 15 billion tonnes entered the Earth's atmosphere to impact the soil of Charlevoix. The point of impact is deemed to be Mount Les Éboulements which would be derived from a major raising of the ground immediately after the impact. Coming from Quebec City, by taking route 138 (eastbound), the northeastern limit of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, before starting to descend towards Baie-Saint-Paul, approximately constitutes the rim of the crater of the Astrobleme de Charlevoix having a diameter of 54 km. This vast crater extends to the Cap-à-l'Aigle (La Malbaie) sector located on the east bank of the Malbaie River. About 60% of this astroblema covers the north shore of the St. Lawrence River; the other 40% is located under the St. Lawrence River. The terrestrial part has been preserved relatively well despite several factors of leveling of the earth's crust. It is the eleventh largest known crater on earth; and the third largest in Canada, behind Sudbury (Ontario) and Manicouagan (Quebec).

This astrobleme turns out to be a significant tourist attraction for Charlevoix. And the territory of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, which is located on the outskirts, touches the edge of this old crater.

History

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The colonization of the area of the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François (PRSF) was the first milestone in the more extensive colonization in Charlevoix under the French regime. In 1662, the seigneury of Beaupré which covered the limits of Beauport up to the Gouffre river was granted to the Compagnie des Cent-Associés; however, in 1662, the Séminaire de Québec acquired it. As the lots were all occupied on the Beaupré coast, the inhabitants demanded new concessions to establish their children who had become adults. Thus, the lords agreed to open to colonization, the strip of land of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François.

Get in

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Map
Map of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François

By car

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  • From Tadoussac (143 km, time: 2 hr 09 min), take the Tadoussac-Baie Sainte-Catherine ferry; take route 138 (westbound), up to the arch stop; take rue Principale (eastbound) to the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François.
  • From Quebec (91 km, time: 1 hr 7 min), take route 138 in an easterly direction, until you reach the arch stop; take rue Principale (eastbound) to the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François.

By bus

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Get around

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Electric charging stations

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See

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Do

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  • 1 Le Massif de Charlevoix, 185, Chemin du Massif, toll-free: +1-877-536-2774. The Massif de Charlevoix is a ski centre on the St. Lawrence River with the greatest vertical drop east of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. It has seven ski lifts. The off-piste (or alpine hiking) sector has more than 15 km of skiable terrain outside the limits of the ski section. Night sledging is offered for 7.5 km on the face of Mont à Liguori. The centre offers accommodation in twin forest chalets. (updated Jan 2022)
  • 2 Sentier des caps de Charlevoix (Capes de Charlevoix trail), Chemin du Massif, ☏ +1 418-435-4163. Hiking, snowshoeing. Daily access or long hike. Main reception in the Saint-Tite-des-Caps sector. Home of Charlevoix (Le Massif sector). (updated Jan 2022)
  • 3 Sentier du Mont à Liguori (Mount Liguori trail), 1300, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-435-4163. Departure of the trail in the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François at the Coopérative de solidarité L'Affluent where hikers can register. This trail provides access to the Gabrielle-Roy-Ouest trail by allowing hikers to loop with the network of trails in the Massif de Charlevoix. The first part of the trail has a steep drop-off; then the path crosses a well-supplied vegetation. The panorama is superb around the Liguori refuge. (updated Jan 2022)
  • 4 Parc des Riverains (Residents' park), 50, rue du Quai, ☏ +1 418 760-1050. The Riverains Park allows swimming at high tide. This park has water games for children. Users are requested to follow the tide schedule. The municipal wharf is contiguous to the Parc des Riverains. (updated Jan 2022)

Buy

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Eat

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  • 1 Casse-croûte du Quai - Zultra-Bouffe, 50, rue du Quai (in the city centre), ☏ +1 418-632-5885, . Restaurant Orange Bistro offers a typical culinary experience of the flavors of Charlevoix in an ancestral home. It is in partnership with Logement Coeur de Loup which offers seven rooms. (updated Nov 2024)
  • 2 Restaurant la Bourgogne, 348, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-632-5520. Restaurant integrated into the Auberge La Côte d'Or. Dining room with a panoramic view of the rivers and the mountains. Gourmet table d'hôte. (updated Nov 2024)

Drink

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  • 1 Bar Le Rivage, 1143, rue Principale (on the river's edge), ☏ +1 418-435-6123. (updated Jan 2022)

Sleep

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Hotels

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  • 1 Auberge Le four à Pain, 968, rue Principale (in the heart of the town), ☏ +1 418-632-5550, . The building of the Auberge derives from the redevelopment of a private residence. The Auberge opened its doors in 2010. Inn with restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. (updated Jan 2021)
  • 2 Auberge la Côte d'Or, 348, rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-632-5520. Inn with restaurant. Main services: pool table, outdoor gazebo, fireplace lounge, television lounge, bar area, outdoor terrace, outdoor spa, hammock. (updated Jan 2021)
  • 3 Auberge la Courtepointe, 8, rue Racine (on the edge of the St. Lawrence River), ☏ +1 418-632-5858, toll-free: +1-888-788-5858, . In the heart of Petite-Rivière St-François, in a village house typical of the Quebec countryside, Auberge la Courtepointe offers you a warm welcome, comfortable rooms and cuisine that varies with the seasons. The inn is five minutes from the Le Massif ski centre on land bordered by the magnificent St. Lawrence River on one side and spectacular mountain scenery on the other. (updated Jan 2021)
  • 4 Club Med Québec-Charlevoix, 1, rue de la Montagne-Secrète (near the start of the Mont à Ligori trail), toll-free: +1-888-932-2582. Various ski passes. Services: open-air Nordic bath and other après-ski activities. (updated Jan 2021)

Gîtes

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Camping

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  • 12 Camping du Domaine à Liguori, 1300 rue Principale, ☏ +1 418-632-5653, . Campsite administered by the Coop Écotouristique (Solidarity Cooperative l'Afluent), based on social and environmental values; the fundamental mission is the enhancement and management of the historic estate in Liguori, through a youth hostel, a cultural café, a campsite and the organization of ecotourism activities. Main services: reception of the network of hiking trails, canyoning, sugar shack and community events. (updated Jan 2021)

Cope

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Go next

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  • 1 Réserve faunique des Laurentides Wildlife reserve straddling the administrative regions of Quebec Region, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Mauricie. It covers an area of ​​7,934 km2 (3,063 sq mi). This wildlife reserve borders on the limit of Saint-Urbain.
  • 2 Sault-au-Cochon Sault-au-Cochon is an unorganized territory of the MRC La Côte-de-Beaupré. It is made up of a strip approximately 18 km long and 4.1 km wide (at the edge of the Massif de Charlevoix) on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, between the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Reserve (Réserve nationale de faune du cap Tourmente) and the Massif de Charlevoix. This territory is exploited for silviculture and recreational tourism activities. The Sentier des caps de Charlevoix and its sub-trails are entirely developed in Sault-au-Cochon.
  • 3 Saint-Tite-des-Caps Saint-Tite-des-Caps est une destination de vacances et de villégiature, grâce à ses attraits naturels à proximité de la ville de Québec. Ce milieu champêtre et forestier présente des paysages majestueux sur des Laurentides et le fleuve Saint-Laurent. The famous Sentiers des Caps attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year.
  • 4 Saint-Urbain (Quebec) A rural, forest and mountainous community, Saint-Urbain has a lot to offer in terms of recreational tourism (vacation, snowmobiling, ATV, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, hiking trails, picking wild fruits, observation of panoramas, flora and fauna). Nestled in the magnificent valley of the Rivière du Gouffre, tucked into the Laurentians, Saint-Urbain is the gateway to the Grands-Jardins national park and the Charlevoix hinterland.
  • 5 Baie-Saint-Paul Baie-Saint-Paul is a crossroads of the arts (contemporary art museum (MAC), Paul-Médéric cultural crossroads, several art work shops) as well as a town of services, shops, recreational and tourism activities. and various other attractions. Crossed by Route 362 and Route 138, Baie-Saint-Paul is an important stopover on the Côte-Nord route.
  • 6 L'Isle-aux-Coudres Municipality of the MRC de Charlevoix covering the entire island of the same name. This island, which has three villages: Saint-Bernard, Saint-Louis and La Baleine, is a coveted tourist destination. Access to the island is via the ferry from Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive which is part of the municipality Les Éboulements. Visitors are particularly attracted by the mills (water and wind), bicycles, the Roche à Caya park, the water cars museum, camping, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
Routes through Petite-Rivière-Saint-François
Quebec City ← Saint-Tite-des-Caps ←  W  E  → Baie-Saint-Paul → Baie-Comeau


This city travel guide to Petite-Rivière-Saint-François is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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